Violence and abuse towards staff by patients and the public in general practice since COVID-19: findings from an online survey.

Abstract

Background: Professionals in general practice (family medicine) experience more violence and abuse by patients and the public than in other healthcare settings. There is limited research on such experiences among non-clinical staff, and no direct comparisons between staff groups in general practice.

Aim: To explore the following: the extent of violence and abuse from patients or the public towards general practice staff between 2020 and 2023; staff correlates and environmental correlates for violence and abuse; and potential impacts of violence and abuse regarding staff feeling of safety and support at work.

Design & setting: An online survey of general practice staff was conducted across England between 11 July 2023 and 30 November 2023.

Method: The survey questions covered demographics, physical violence and threats, verbal abuse, harassment, and inappropriate sexual behaviours experienced or witnessed between 2020 and 2023. It asked whether participants felt safe and supported at work. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare binary outcomes and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for categorical outcomes.

Results: Participants (n = 1152, 44.0% clinical, 56.0% non-clinical) were aged 21-75 years (mean = 47.3 years, standard deviation [SD] = 11.1). Overall, 93.7% reported experiencing any form of violence or abuse, with 92.3% reporting verbal abuse, 47.7% reporting physical violence or threats, 60.5% reporting feeling harassed, and 23.7% reporting inappropriate sexual behaviours. Additionally, 22.3% of staff felt unsafe but only 57.1% felt supported at work. Non-clinical, younger, or less experienced staff and those in urban and deprived areas experience more violence and abuse. Those experiencing it more frequently felt less safe and supported.

Conclusions: Violence and abuse from patients and the public towards general practice staff may be prevalent and increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Those at greater risk require more organisational support.